Process and apparatus for burnishing cones for roller bearings and the like



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lElllElNB/Y lli-JE. TJEMIKEN, OlE CANTN, DHllO, ASSIGNR '.l'O THE @EMMEN MULLER BEAREENG CUMPANY, OIF CANTON, OHI, il. CQRPORATION 0F HIU.

lElEtClESS ANTI) APPARATUSFOR BURNJISHNG @ONES -lEfOlEt ROLLER BlERlENGrS AND THE trrrn. v

.application filed September To all whom t 'may concern: I

- Be it known that l, HENRY H. TIMKEN,

. a citizen of the United States, and a resident Y of the city of Canton, in the county of Stark lill and State of Uhio, have invented a new and useful Process and Apparatus for Burnishing Cones forlioller Bearings andthe like,

of which 4the following is aspecitication.

ll/ly invention vrelates to the manufacture of cones for roller bearings andthe like. @uchl'cones usually' have a circumferential rib designed asl an abutment for taking the end thrust of the rollers that bear on the race-way or conical surface of the cone; and

the side .of the rib and the' back face of the cone, as well as the race-way itself, require to be accurately finished not only with respect to'their individual surfaces but with relation to one another.v rlhe bearing sur true circles; and likewise, also, the back face -must be accurately 'nishedand positioned.-

Heretofore theV work on the race-way, rib

and back face has been done in separ'ate opierations with cutting tools, thus requiringV a high grade' of skill and involving considerable expense 1n producing a green or unhardenedv cone; and also involving consider able additional Y expense in grinding the hardened coneto bring within the limits of precision required for 'practical use..

rlheprincipal object of 'the present invention is tor eliminate or minimize the opera.

tionsisubsequent tohardening, to eliminate or minimize dlstortlon due to hardening, to

' simplify the operations prior to hardening, and toeffect'sueh prior operations under conditions that f wil'l minimize errors in -the size and'taper of the cone and 1n the relavvtinus,of;the, rib and back face thereof to the i, ieri. serial no. tantra l race-way thereof. lt also consists in the operations and in the ap-paratus hereinafter more fully described and claimed` ln the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts. wherever they occur,

Fig. l is a plan view of an apparatus suitable for use in practicing that process;

lFig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a detail cross-sectionthrough the cage for the upper series of rollers in the region of one' of the fastening members that secure the ring portion of the cage `to the' body portion thereof..

lhe device illustrated inthe drawing comprises a hollowcylindrical base Allwhose upper end is counter-bored to form an annular shoulder or seat 5; .land-on this' seat-rests a ringo whose periphery fits against the up per inner surface ofthe cylinder. rll`he inner surface of this/ring'isconed orA beveled to form a downwardly tapering race-way 7 for a plurality of conicalfrollers 8. 'llhese rollers are preferably provided with spindles 9 extending axially fro'mtheirlends; and these spindles are disposed in slots -l0 provided therefor in a spacing and positioning .cage 1l. 4'llhe upper endof the cage ill is prefer ably provided witha removable ring 11%' whereby the rollers'areremovabl'y retained within said cage;

threaded into holes`in the free ends of the spacing portions ilc of said cage. fllhe slots 10 are elongated radially with respect tothe axis of the cage l1 so as to-permit the rollers to spread apart or move Y radially outward when lifted away fromv their bearing. ring or race-way 7. 'lhe upper edge of each 4of these rollers is beveled at the proper angle forworking on the side face of the rib 12 of the cone 13, as hereinafter described.

Movably mounted inside of the cylindrical base '4l is a platen lll inthe form of a hollow plunger, that is., a circular upper end 15 'llhe ring 11a is' secured vto the cage by means of a series of screws '1lb which pass' through said rlng and are with `a downward projecting annular wall 16 fitting the interior of said cylindrical base. On the` `upper surface of said platen is formed a cirfeular race-way concentric with the. aXis ofthe cylindrical base. vThis race-Way comprises an annular groove 17 whose'bottom is coned or tapered concentric with the axis of the cylindrical base. Rest ing on and 'cooperating with said race-way isa series of conical or tapered rollers 18 whose axes center on the axis of the cylindrical base. These rollers are mounted in' a suitable' positioning cage such,'for instance,

as a circular blank 19 which fits in a *recess v ofv said cylindrical base.

20; provided therefor in the-to-p of the cylin- 'dric'al base and is provided withholes 2l for the rollers to proj ectthrough.

Inside of the annular wall ofthe platen 14 the pressure ofthe spring may be adjusted by screwing i '.orunscrewing the threaded plug'.I The upwardmovement ofthe platen "is limited b'yjmeans of a threaded stop or pin 25 thatl is mounted on the side of the cy- 28 and means for exertingendwise pressure T he operation of the device as follows: Vjhenthe arbor 28 is retractedr and the platen Algis inv its raised tposition, the upper lindrioal'shell 4 and projects into a Vertically elongated slot orjrecess 26 provided therefor in the outer wall 16 of the platen.- In its upward movement, the platennot only -carries the rollers 18 .that cooperate with itsl ownrace-wayl? but also lifts the first mentioned'se'ries of'rollers 8 far enough above. the beveled ring 5 to permit them to spread far'enough for the insertion of the work,

usually a cone l-withga rib 27 ontheismaller end thereof. l

"' In use the device above described is mounted n t-he bed of a machine'that is equipped with a rotatable arbor or mandrel on such arbor or mandrel.

set -Iof rollers58- s read radially far enough the green .cone 13 to clear the lower ends of arbo-r ,284is then lowered intothe circular bore` of the cone and, by reason .of the end of. the arbor being accurately'coned concentrically with its axis and the axis of the cylindrical basejll in alinement, therewith, it accurately centers the coneupon said alined,

axes. Il`he further downward lnorenlent of the arbor forces the platen downward 'against the resistance of the compression spring 22 and causes the upper series ol" rollers .8 to bear upon vthe nnte-way 7 provided therefor, whereby said rollers are accurately centered with respect to the axes aforesaid. While the downward pressure of the arbor is maintained, `said arbor is rotated; and by reason of its frictional engagement-withthe cone, it causes the conc also to rotate, and the cone, in turn, causes the rollers of both series to roll on their race-ways as reaction surfaces therefor. The ellect of thus rotating the cone on lits own axis while maintaining pressure endwise thereof to smooth or Liron" the portions 'of the conc surf-acev that are in contact with therollers, namely, the end or back face of the cone which is in contact with the rollers 1,8 that are mounted on the resilicntly supported platen, the main l-iearing face ofthecone that is in contact with the sides of the roll ers 8 of the upper series, and the side ofthe rib 13 that is in contact with the beveled or series. The operation 'is-in the nature of a burnishing operation wherein very little work isdone at any one place at a time but wherein the entire surface is subjected to a n'iultiplicity of operations by each roller acting progressively so that, at the end of the operation, all of the surfaces acted on are very smooth and bright.

It isnoted that the race-way 7 Yfor the upper series of rollers 8 functions as a. die for determining the size and taper of the cone` lwhile the fact that the main hearing sur l :ne

of the cone'and the face of its rib l2 are burnishedsimultaneouslyby the saine rollers assures the proper relation of said rib and race-way, that is, the rib is not only positioned at the proper place on the cone but its side face will be a surfareof revolution described around the axis of thetcone. "Likewise, the fact that the end or back fare of the cone is burnished simultaneously with the finishing of the bearingr surface thereof .assures the proper relation between said back face and the race-way of the cone` as special provision is made for maintaining' perfect alinement of theplaten in all posii -tions of its resilient adiustnient. topermit the 'rib 27 4onthe smaller end of l i said rollersrV The cone is placedI in position 'Withits ribfg 12 resting'on the beveled upper ends ofthe rollers 8- of the upper series. The

Wlith bones of the doubly conical type, such as illustrated in Fig. 2` wherein there are two race-ways and the rib 13 is finished on two faces or sides. the operation is rompleted on the first race-way with its associated rib and back face, whereulion the cone is reversed end for end and the operation is effected on the other race-way either in the Same apparatus (if the size and taper permit) or in a separate apparatus.

Obviously the process and apparatus heredetailsl disclosed.

infinitos inbefore described admit ofconsiderable va- 8. rl"he process of making roller bearingr riationwithout departing` from my invention and l do not wish to be restricted to the Q. rllhe process of making roller hearing .cones and the like which comprises arranginzg- 'a series of conical rollers on a hollow conical raceway and about a common center with their innermost elements disposed at an Vinclination to the common vaxis equal to the inclination of the raceway of the desired cone, centering the cone" on said ,commonaxis, and simultaneously rotating said cone and. ressing it axially against said rollers.. 3. he process of making roller bearingl cones which comprises the making of the green cone and'smoothing a plurality of surfaces thereof without resetting said cone.

Zl. The process-of makingr roller bearing" cones which comprises arrangingtwo series of conical rollersl around a common axis, one

of said series being yieldingly supported to move longitudinally of said axis afiid adapted to bea-r against the end of a. cone, and the rollers ofthe other' series having theirinnermost elements disposed to bear against the race-way of such cone and rotating such cone on such common axis while pressing it endwise against the rollersof both series.

5. 'llhe 'process of making` ribbed roller bearing cones and the like which comprises smoothing4 the bearing surface thereof by rotating the cone on its axisand simultaneoiisly pressing the same endwise against conically disposed rollerswhose innermost 1 elements Vare positioned to smooth the 'raicewayA of said Vcone and whose larger ends are adapted to smooth the siden face orthe rib of the cone.

6. rlhe process of making roller bearing con-es and the like which comprises smoothing the race-way thereof byv rotating the cone on its axis and simultaneously pressine' the same endwise against two series of rollers, one disposed to bear against the end of the 4cone and theother disposed to bear against the race-way thereof.

7. The process of making roller bearingl H cones and the like which comprises smoothing the bearing' surface thereoiI by rotating the cone on its axis and simultaneously pressing` the same endwise against two series of rollers, one disposed to bear against the end of the cone and the other disposed to bear against the race-way and side face or the rib thereof.

cones and'the like which comprises rotatingl the cone on its axis and simultaneously pressing the same endwise against tivo series of rollers, one yieldingly mounted opposite the end of the cone and the other conically disposed around the race-way portion of the cone.

9. A device for smoothing cones comprising a conical race-way, a series of conical rollers on said race-way and a rotatable and axially movable spindle disposed axially with respect tc said series of rollers to effect rotation of a cone and produce endwise pressure thereon.

l0. A device for smoothing ribbed cones for rollerl bearings comprisinga conical race-way, a series of conical rollers on said race-way and a rotatable and axially movable spindledisposed axiallywith respect tosaid series of' rollers to effect rotation of a cone and produce endwise .pressure thereon,y the larger ends of said rollers being adapted to work on a side of the rib of a eone'while the bodies of the rollers work on the race-way of such cone.

vsuch cone, and means for rotating such -cone and Vpressing it against both .series of rollers. l2. A device for smoothing the ends and conical surfaces of cones. comprising la l (if conieallzrace-way and a series ofconical rollers ereon in position to work on the conical surface of a cone, a second race-way concentric with said 'firstmentioned 'racewayf and having` a seriesdof lconical rollers `thereon in position' to work on the end of such cone, and means for rotating such cone and pressing` it against both series of rollers. saidsecond race-way and its rollers being `axially movable andyieldingly supported.

13.. i'd'evice for smoothinghollow cones for roller bearings comprisingV a series of rollers conically disposedaboiit an axis and a rotatable and endwise movable spindle in alii'iement with said axis. said spindle havla rotatable spindle i'n aliiiement with said axis and arranged to exert pressure axially, said spindle havingr its end coned to enter the bore of a ,cone and thereby center the same, whereby said spindle is adapted to -ingl its end coned whereby the longitudinal movement and rotation of said spindle iso Center such cone and then riCiGiia-Hy miste cage. having radially -eiong'zited openings it under pressure axialiy against said adapted to permit said rollers to spread rollers. l A radially fair enough to permit oi: the inscr- 10 15. Inra. device for burnishing cones that tion of a Hangul Cone.` 5 have fianges at their smaller ends, ai. onicai Signed :it Canton, Ghia, this lith my n( race-Way, :L series of rollers, and :i 'jauge for iiugus 1921.

,circiirnfrentially spacingsai-id rollers; said A 'HENRY H. TiMKiCN, 

